Jude 17-18 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”
In the last times, people will reject God and the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in the “last times.” Whether or not Jesus comes soon, we cannot know. The evidence is clear to any believer and to honest unbelievers that people are scoffing at Christians. More and more Christians are being persecuted each year. Jesus warned his disciples about this, and the apostles passed this prophecy down to the first and second generation of believers. This warning continues to today. We should not be surprised when we are ridiculed and even persecuted for our faith. Why do people hate Christians? Why do atheists take Christians to court in the USA? Why are believers imprisoned, tortured, and even killed in Asia and the Middle East? There is something about the light of Jesus that bothers people. Perhaps they feel their places of power are threatened. Or, they want legitimacy for their lifestyles. There are many reasons. Jude focuses in on the type of evil lifestyles that he has listed in this letter. In verse 18, he refers specifically to “ungodly desires.” These desires are fueled by sin and pride and go against God’s plan of holiness for us. When sin is left unchecked, unforgiven, and uncleansed, it develops such ungodly desires. The result is ruin in people’s lives and relationships. The church must be aware of this. If this is a problem in our lives, we must seek God’s forgiveness, healing, and cleansing.
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